We're turning houses into homes by hosting work holidays and providing FREE workshops to anyone and everyone who is in the spirit of learning! We're learning, you're learning, we're all learning together what it means to create a healthy, green home...what could be better than that?
...a healthier, greener vision for Buffalo perhaps?

Upcoming Events

Monday, November 1, 2010

Finishing wood...cuckoo for coconut oil?

First post since settling in at Yestermorrow (in Vermont) for six months...

Lately, I am into learning about different treatments for wood, especially for wood that will be used in eating, such as cutting boards and spoons.I have learned that once again, it is simply a matter of common sense; if I would not eat the oil, I should not put it on the wood I will be eating off of.Seems self-explanatory, no?

Then again, susceptibility to rancidity must be taken into account.For example, I should not treat wood with olive oil since it is much more susceptible to rancidity than say walnut oil or almond oil.…but walnut oil is not extremely common, is it?I opted for coconut oil…I read it is a good way to treat wood due to its low rancidity…we’ll see how it works out.Secondly, something I did not even realize, which may be an extremely important topic to consider if giving wood gifts as a present, is allergies.If someone is allergic to walnuts, don’t treat the wood with walnut oil.Same with coconut.Makes sense, but if you are not allergic to any foods, it is not something that would immediately come to mind in choosing finishes.